CA1253195A - Wet type color electrophotographic copying machine - Google Patents
Wet type color electrophotographic copying machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1253195A CA1253195A CA000525456A CA525456A CA1253195A CA 1253195 A CA1253195 A CA 1253195A CA 000525456 A CA000525456 A CA 000525456A CA 525456 A CA525456 A CA 525456A CA 1253195 A CA1253195 A CA 1253195A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- developing
- developer
- wet type
- color
- blade
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/01—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
- G03G15/0105—Details of unit
- G03G15/0121—Details of unit for developing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/10—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a liquid developer
- G03G15/11—Removing excess liquid developer, e.g. by heat
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Wet Developing In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Color Electrophotography (AREA)
- Liquid Developers In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Photoreceptors In Electrophotography (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, a wet type of developing apparatus and a surplus developer removing device are provided under a photosensitive material carrying device.
The developing apparatus comprises a plurality of color developing devices and a lifting means for locating each developing device at the levels of three stages such as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position. The surplus developer removing device comprises a developer squeezing roller unit, a developer recovery blade both of which are provided at least in each color developing device, and an air knife device. Said blade is operated to be in contact with the non-image area of the surface interlockingly with the lowering movement of the developing device from the developing position to the blade contacting position in order to recover the remained developer through the blade completely.
A color turbidity of a copy image is eliminated by the enhancement of the removal effect of said removing device.
In a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, a wet type of developing apparatus and a surplus developer removing device are provided under a photosensitive material carrying device.
The developing apparatus comprises a plurality of color developing devices and a lifting means for locating each developing device at the levels of three stages such as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position. The surplus developer removing device comprises a developer squeezing roller unit, a developer recovery blade both of which are provided at least in each color developing device, and an air knife device. Said blade is operated to be in contact with the non-image area of the surface interlockingly with the lowering movement of the developing device from the developing position to the blade contacting position in order to recover the remained developer through the blade completely.
A color turbidity of a copy image is eliminated by the enhancement of the removal effect of said removing device.
Description
~i3:~35 Ti-tle: "A wet type color electrophotographic copying machine"
SPECIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine which is provided wi~h a plurality of color developing devices, and in particular, to a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine in which a color turbidity can be eliminated appreciably by the enhancement of a removal effect of a surplus developer removing device thereof.
SPECIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine which is provided wi~h a plurality of color developing devices, and in particular, to a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine in which a color turbidity can be eliminated appreciably by the enhancement of a removal effect of a surplus developer removing device thereof.
2, Prior Ar~
Generally, as for an above mentioned wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, for example such a surplus developer removing device as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Pubrication No. 56 (1981)-21168 is known in the art.
Thi.s kind of surplus developer removing device is provided with a developer recovery blade between each color developing device and an air knife device disposed behind that in order to return some escaped developer to near the blade, and it is also provided with a small clearance between the tip of the developer recovery blade and an image carrying surface in order that ^~
~3~
a toner image on the surface is not put out of order by the tip of the blade. Surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is mostly recovered by the blade, and further surplus developer brought out behind the blade with the image carrying surface is returned to the area near the tip of the blade by means of the blowing air from the air knife device and then recovered by the blade.
However, in the above-mentioned prior removing device it is difficult to set up it so as to keep the uniform clearance between the image carrying sur ace and the tip of the blade along widthwise thereof (that is, in the direction intersecting the direction of the relative movement therebetween, but hereinafter referred to widthwise). Therefore, the prior removing device has a problem such that due to the not uniform clearance as above~mentioned stripe~shaped unevenness is apt to be brought about on the image in the direction of -the relative movement.
As for the countermeasure to that problem, it is known in the art that a developer squeezing roller unit is adopted instead of the developer recovery blade (for example as disclosed in Japanese Patent Pubrication No. 58 (1983)-47707).
This kind of squeezing roller unit includes contact rollers disposed so as to be in contact with the image carrying surface a-t both ends thereof and a small diameter roller arranged between the both contact rollers so as to have a uniform clearance between the small di.ameter ro].ler and the image carrying surface along widthwise thereof.
However, in the above-mentioned prior art copying machine in which a plurality o~ developing ~ii3~5 heads of the color developiny devices are constructed so as to be able to approach to and recede from the image carrying surface, since the developer recovery blade or the developer squeezing roller unit set up in each color developing device leaves the image carrying surface when the color development is completed and thereupon surplus developer held in the above-mentioned clearance still remains at the boundary area of the image carrying surface where no images exist (hereinafter, referred to non-image area), the remained developer probably causes a color turbidity in a developed image at the next color developing process.
SUM~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to solving the problems noted above, and has for its object to provide a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine in which a color turbidity can be eliminated by the enhancement of a removal effect through the improvemen-t of the prior surplus developer removing device.
The means of the present invention for accomplishing the above purpose is a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, in which a wet type of developing apparatus and a surplus developer removing device being provided under a photosensitive material carrying device, and a toner image being produced on an image carrying surface and surplus developer remained on the carrying surface being removed while the surface heing moved relatively to both the wet type of developing apparatus and the surplus developer removing device, said wet type of developing apparatus comprising a plurality of color developing devices and a lifting means for locating each color developing device at the levels of three stages such as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position, said surplus developer removing device comprising a developer squeezing roller unit, a developer recovery blade both of which being provided at least in each color developing device and an air knife device, and said developer recovery blade being brought into contact with the boundary area of the image carrying surface where no image existing from its receded position interlockingly with the lowering movement of the color developing device from the developing position to the blade contacting position in order to recover the developer remained at the boundary area.
Accordingly, surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is mostly removed by the squeezing roller unit during a developing process, and surplus developer escaped to the surface behind the roller unit is returned to the area near the roller uni-t by the blowing air from the air knife d~vice so as to be removed through the roller unitO
When the image area of the image carrying surface passes by the developing heads, the supply of the developer is stopped, the developing heads and the s~ueezing roller leave operatively from the non~image area of the image carrying surface, and then the developer recovery blade moves up to contact with the non-image area of the surface sequentially. Therefore, surplus developer remained in the clearance between the image carrying su:rface and the squeezing roller is removed downwards through the recovery blade.
~S3~
The foregoing and other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered by the accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTXON OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the first embodim0nt of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device thereof comprises a drum;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the color developing device thereof;
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine;
Figures 4 and 5 show the second embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copyi~g machine for use in a color correction according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device comprises a flat board type of a photosensitive material holder;
Figure 4 is a side view of a principal part thereof at a stage of development; and Fiyure 5 is a side view of a principal part thereof at a stage of exposure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
. .
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown the first embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device comprises a drum.
As shown in Figure 3, the reference symbol 1 is a drum which is adapted to be supported rotatively by the frame of the copying machine and to hold a sheet of photosensitive material 2 on the peripheral surface thereoE, and 3 is a wet type of developing apparatus which is adapted to develop an electrostatic latent image generated on the photosensitive material 2. The wet type oE
developing apparatus comprises a plurality of color developing devices 3C, 3M, 3~ which are adapted to supply vari~us kinds of color developers as described in detail later.
Around the periphery of the drum 1 along in the rotational direction A thereof there are arran~ed a photosensitive material winding device 4 for winding the photosensitive material 2 around the drum 1, a charger 5 for charging electrostatic charge to the photosensitive material 2, a focusing optical apparatus 6 ~or use in producing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive material 2 in accordance with an original image, an auxiliary exposing device for use in tone correction, an air knife device 8, a photosensi-tive material stripping device 10, a drum cleaning device 11 and a de-electrifier 12 so as to face to the peripheral surface of the drum 1.
The photosensitive material winding device 4 comprises a photosensitive material feed rollers 1 and a press roller 15 for use in pressing down and widing the photosensi-tive material 2 onto the peripheral surface of the drum 1. Th.e symbol 16 is a ro-tary cutter, 17 is a photosensitive material supply roller 17, and 18 is a magazine box :Eor holding a rolled photosensitive material within it.
~53~
The optical apparatus 6 comprises an illuminating device 22 to illuminate an original 21 held on an original holding frame 20, a focusing lens unit 23, color separating filters 24 and a reflecting mirror 25. While the original 21 is mo~ed in the direction indicated by the arrow B
with the holding frame 20, the electrostatic la-tent image is produced as a color separated image projected through the focusing lens unit 23 and the color separa-ting fil-ter 24 onto the photosensitive material 2 wound around the drum 1 from the slit~like illuminated images of the original 21.
The wet type of developing apparatus 3 ~5 cornprises a cyan developing device 3C, a magenta developing devics 3M, a yellow developing device 3Y
and a black developing device (not shown in Figures) if desired, and by a corresponding color toner it developes the electrostatic latent image produced on the photosensitive material 2 as the color separated image so as to obtain a color copy image by repeating a color development corxespondingly.
Each developing device 3C, 3M, 3Y is mounted movably upward and downward ~indicated by the arrow D) on a carriage 31 which is provided movably right and left (indicated by the arrow C). That is, the carriage 31 is adapted to be rnoved and located in position on a pair of guide rails 33 by a driving means 36 composed of a drive motor 34, a chain 35 and so on. The guide rails are arranged in parallel at opposed sides of a base portion 32 of the machine.
As shown in Figure 1, in the base portion 32 there is provided a lifting means 40 o~ the ~.~s~
developing device which is composed of a push-up motor 37, a push-up crank mechanism 38 and a pair of push-up rods 39 which supports the bottom of the developing device. sy the lifting means 40 each of the color developiny devices is located respectively at the levels of such three stages as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position.
And each color developing device, ~or example the cyan developing device 3C as shown in Figures 1 and 2 supports a developing head 42 within a case body 41 thereof, The developing head 42 is adapted to be moved up and down together with the case body 41 and to supply color developer 44 to an image carrying surface 2a of the electrophotosensitive material 2 from a feed pump 43. In Figure 2, the symbol 45 is a bird's fountain type of developer supplementary tank, and 46 is an air vent.
~lereinafter, the characteristic construction of the present invention will be explained.
In Figure 1, the developing head 42 which is also used as a developing electrode plate, two rollers ~8, 50 and a support shaft 51 for the rollers are supported by both forward and rearward side plates 47a, 47a of a head case 47 thereof. When the color developing device 3C is locatecl at the developing position, the head case ~7 i5 biased throuyh a push-up spring 49 so as for two rollers 48, 50 to be in contact with the drum 1. Therefore, there is formed a clearance accordingly between the developing head 42 and the image carryiny surface 2a of the photosensitive material 2 so that the clearance may be filled with the developer, Beh:ind the developiny head 42, there are ~2~ 5 g provided the roller 50, a developer recovery blade 52 and an air knife device 8 orderly along in the rotational direction A of the drum 1. The roller 50 is also used as a developer squeezing roller unit and comprises contact rollers 50a, 50a disposed to be in contact with the image carrying surface at both ends thereof and a small diameter roller 50b arranged between the both contact rollers 50a, 50a so as to form a small squeezing clearance of, ~or example 0.3 - 0.4 mm between the roller 50b and the image carrying surface 2a. By the small clearance, the toner image is prevented from being put into disorder. The developer recovery blade 52 is secured to a swing plate 53 by screws so as to be supported swingably by the support shaft 51 through the swing plate 53, and biased upwards by a compression spring 54 from the underside of the swing plate 53.
At the end of the support sha~t 51 is secured 20 a swing arm 56 provided with a runner 55. The runner 55 ls biased to an upper end oE a rearward side plate 41a of the case body 41 by the spring 54, Therefore, at the developing position where the developing head 42 is held near the drum 1, the developer recovery blade 52 keeps a clearance between its upper edge and the image carrying surface 2a, A-t the hlade contacting position where the case body 41 of the color developing device 3C is lowered a predetermined distance, the upwards movement of the head case 47 is llmited to a predetermined level ~y stopper members 57 secured respectively to the left and right side plates 41b, 41b of the case body 41 against the push-up spring 49. And also the developing head 42 and ~2~;3~
the developer squeezing roller unit 50 are kept apart from the image carrying surface 2a of the photosensitive material 2~ And the runner 55 is pushed down by the spring 54 in accordance with the lowering distance of the case body 41 relative to the head case ~7 so that the blade 52 moves up to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the drum l. Consequently, surplus developer remained between the developer squeezing roller unit 50 and the image carrying surface 2a flows down to be removed -through the developer recovery blade 52 with the aid of the air pressure from the air knife device 8.
As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral surface of the drum 1 comprises the image area on which the sheetlike photosensitive material 2 is wound from the forward of the rotational direction (indicated b~v arrow A) of the drum and the non-image area where the photosensitive material doesn't exit.
Alon~ in the axial direction of the drum l in the orward portion of the image area there are provided many sucking ports 59 for use in holding the sheetlike photosensitive material 2 in a state of being wound around the drum l by section.
~nd in the non-image area there is provided a suction groove 60 in the axial direction of the drum l, which functions to remove surplus developer by suction and in which an absorptive material 61 such as felt and the likes are pac~.ed in.
The sucking ports 59 and the suction groove 60 are connected respectively to a suction duct 63 p~ovided within the rotary shaft 62 of the drum l, and the suction duct 63 is connected to a SUCti blo-~er 65 through a drainer 6~.
Generally, as for an above mentioned wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, for example such a surplus developer removing device as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Pubrication No. 56 (1981)-21168 is known in the art.
Thi.s kind of surplus developer removing device is provided with a developer recovery blade between each color developing device and an air knife device disposed behind that in order to return some escaped developer to near the blade, and it is also provided with a small clearance between the tip of the developer recovery blade and an image carrying surface in order that ^~
~3~
a toner image on the surface is not put out of order by the tip of the blade. Surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is mostly recovered by the blade, and further surplus developer brought out behind the blade with the image carrying surface is returned to the area near the tip of the blade by means of the blowing air from the air knife device and then recovered by the blade.
However, in the above-mentioned prior removing device it is difficult to set up it so as to keep the uniform clearance between the image carrying sur ace and the tip of the blade along widthwise thereof (that is, in the direction intersecting the direction of the relative movement therebetween, but hereinafter referred to widthwise). Therefore, the prior removing device has a problem such that due to the not uniform clearance as above~mentioned stripe~shaped unevenness is apt to be brought about on the image in the direction of -the relative movement.
As for the countermeasure to that problem, it is known in the art that a developer squeezing roller unit is adopted instead of the developer recovery blade (for example as disclosed in Japanese Patent Pubrication No. 58 (1983)-47707).
This kind of squeezing roller unit includes contact rollers disposed so as to be in contact with the image carrying surface a-t both ends thereof and a small diameter roller arranged between the both contact rollers so as to have a uniform clearance between the small di.ameter ro].ler and the image carrying surface along widthwise thereof.
However, in the above-mentioned prior art copying machine in which a plurality o~ developing ~ii3~5 heads of the color developiny devices are constructed so as to be able to approach to and recede from the image carrying surface, since the developer recovery blade or the developer squeezing roller unit set up in each color developing device leaves the image carrying surface when the color development is completed and thereupon surplus developer held in the above-mentioned clearance still remains at the boundary area of the image carrying surface where no images exist (hereinafter, referred to non-image area), the remained developer probably causes a color turbidity in a developed image at the next color developing process.
SUM~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to solving the problems noted above, and has for its object to provide a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine in which a color turbidity can be eliminated by the enhancement of a removal effect through the improvemen-t of the prior surplus developer removing device.
The means of the present invention for accomplishing the above purpose is a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, in which a wet type of developing apparatus and a surplus developer removing device being provided under a photosensitive material carrying device, and a toner image being produced on an image carrying surface and surplus developer remained on the carrying surface being removed while the surface heing moved relatively to both the wet type of developing apparatus and the surplus developer removing device, said wet type of developing apparatus comprising a plurality of color developing devices and a lifting means for locating each color developing device at the levels of three stages such as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position, said surplus developer removing device comprising a developer squeezing roller unit, a developer recovery blade both of which being provided at least in each color developing device and an air knife device, and said developer recovery blade being brought into contact with the boundary area of the image carrying surface where no image existing from its receded position interlockingly with the lowering movement of the color developing device from the developing position to the blade contacting position in order to recover the developer remained at the boundary area.
Accordingly, surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is mostly removed by the squeezing roller unit during a developing process, and surplus developer escaped to the surface behind the roller unit is returned to the area near the roller uni-t by the blowing air from the air knife d~vice so as to be removed through the roller unitO
When the image area of the image carrying surface passes by the developing heads, the supply of the developer is stopped, the developing heads and the s~ueezing roller leave operatively from the non~image area of the image carrying surface, and then the developer recovery blade moves up to contact with the non-image area of the surface sequentially. Therefore, surplus developer remained in the clearance between the image carrying su:rface and the squeezing roller is removed downwards through the recovery blade.
~S3~
The foregoing and other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered by the accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTXON OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the first embodim0nt of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device thereof comprises a drum;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the color developing device thereof;
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine;
Figures 4 and 5 show the second embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copyi~g machine for use in a color correction according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device comprises a flat board type of a photosensitive material holder;
Figure 4 is a side view of a principal part thereof at a stage of development; and Fiyure 5 is a side view of a principal part thereof at a stage of exposure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
. .
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown the first embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention, in which a photosensitive material carrying device comprises a drum.
As shown in Figure 3, the reference symbol 1 is a drum which is adapted to be supported rotatively by the frame of the copying machine and to hold a sheet of photosensitive material 2 on the peripheral surface thereoE, and 3 is a wet type of developing apparatus which is adapted to develop an electrostatic latent image generated on the photosensitive material 2. The wet type oE
developing apparatus comprises a plurality of color developing devices 3C, 3M, 3~ which are adapted to supply vari~us kinds of color developers as described in detail later.
Around the periphery of the drum 1 along in the rotational direction A thereof there are arran~ed a photosensitive material winding device 4 for winding the photosensitive material 2 around the drum 1, a charger 5 for charging electrostatic charge to the photosensitive material 2, a focusing optical apparatus 6 ~or use in producing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive material 2 in accordance with an original image, an auxiliary exposing device for use in tone correction, an air knife device 8, a photosensi-tive material stripping device 10, a drum cleaning device 11 and a de-electrifier 12 so as to face to the peripheral surface of the drum 1.
The photosensitive material winding device 4 comprises a photosensitive material feed rollers 1 and a press roller 15 for use in pressing down and widing the photosensi-tive material 2 onto the peripheral surface of the drum 1. Th.e symbol 16 is a ro-tary cutter, 17 is a photosensitive material supply roller 17, and 18 is a magazine box :Eor holding a rolled photosensitive material within it.
~53~
The optical apparatus 6 comprises an illuminating device 22 to illuminate an original 21 held on an original holding frame 20, a focusing lens unit 23, color separating filters 24 and a reflecting mirror 25. While the original 21 is mo~ed in the direction indicated by the arrow B
with the holding frame 20, the electrostatic la-tent image is produced as a color separated image projected through the focusing lens unit 23 and the color separa-ting fil-ter 24 onto the photosensitive material 2 wound around the drum 1 from the slit~like illuminated images of the original 21.
The wet type of developing apparatus 3 ~5 cornprises a cyan developing device 3C, a magenta developing devics 3M, a yellow developing device 3Y
and a black developing device (not shown in Figures) if desired, and by a corresponding color toner it developes the electrostatic latent image produced on the photosensitive material 2 as the color separated image so as to obtain a color copy image by repeating a color development corxespondingly.
Each developing device 3C, 3M, 3Y is mounted movably upward and downward ~indicated by the arrow D) on a carriage 31 which is provided movably right and left (indicated by the arrow C). That is, the carriage 31 is adapted to be rnoved and located in position on a pair of guide rails 33 by a driving means 36 composed of a drive motor 34, a chain 35 and so on. The guide rails are arranged in parallel at opposed sides of a base portion 32 of the machine.
As shown in Figure 1, in the base portion 32 there is provided a lifting means 40 o~ the ~.~s~
developing device which is composed of a push-up motor 37, a push-up crank mechanism 38 and a pair of push-up rods 39 which supports the bottom of the developing device. sy the lifting means 40 each of the color developiny devices is located respectively at the levels of such three stages as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position.
And each color developing device, ~or example the cyan developing device 3C as shown in Figures 1 and 2 supports a developing head 42 within a case body 41 thereof, The developing head 42 is adapted to be moved up and down together with the case body 41 and to supply color developer 44 to an image carrying surface 2a of the electrophotosensitive material 2 from a feed pump 43. In Figure 2, the symbol 45 is a bird's fountain type of developer supplementary tank, and 46 is an air vent.
~lereinafter, the characteristic construction of the present invention will be explained.
In Figure 1, the developing head 42 which is also used as a developing electrode plate, two rollers ~8, 50 and a support shaft 51 for the rollers are supported by both forward and rearward side plates 47a, 47a of a head case 47 thereof. When the color developing device 3C is locatecl at the developing position, the head case ~7 i5 biased throuyh a push-up spring 49 so as for two rollers 48, 50 to be in contact with the drum 1. Therefore, there is formed a clearance accordingly between the developing head 42 and the image carryiny surface 2a of the photosensitive material 2 so that the clearance may be filled with the developer, Beh:ind the developiny head 42, there are ~2~ 5 g provided the roller 50, a developer recovery blade 52 and an air knife device 8 orderly along in the rotational direction A of the drum 1. The roller 50 is also used as a developer squeezing roller unit and comprises contact rollers 50a, 50a disposed to be in contact with the image carrying surface at both ends thereof and a small diameter roller 50b arranged between the both contact rollers 50a, 50a so as to form a small squeezing clearance of, ~or example 0.3 - 0.4 mm between the roller 50b and the image carrying surface 2a. By the small clearance, the toner image is prevented from being put into disorder. The developer recovery blade 52 is secured to a swing plate 53 by screws so as to be supported swingably by the support shaft 51 through the swing plate 53, and biased upwards by a compression spring 54 from the underside of the swing plate 53.
At the end of the support sha~t 51 is secured 20 a swing arm 56 provided with a runner 55. The runner 55 ls biased to an upper end oE a rearward side plate 41a of the case body 41 by the spring 54, Therefore, at the developing position where the developing head 42 is held near the drum 1, the developer recovery blade 52 keeps a clearance between its upper edge and the image carrying surface 2a, A-t the hlade contacting position where the case body 41 of the color developing device 3C is lowered a predetermined distance, the upwards movement of the head case 47 is llmited to a predetermined level ~y stopper members 57 secured respectively to the left and right side plates 41b, 41b of the case body 41 against the push-up spring 49. And also the developing head 42 and ~2~;3~
the developer squeezing roller unit 50 are kept apart from the image carrying surface 2a of the photosensitive material 2~ And the runner 55 is pushed down by the spring 54 in accordance with the lowering distance of the case body 41 relative to the head case ~7 so that the blade 52 moves up to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the drum l. Consequently, surplus developer remained between the developer squeezing roller unit 50 and the image carrying surface 2a flows down to be removed -through the developer recovery blade 52 with the aid of the air pressure from the air knife device 8.
As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral surface of the drum 1 comprises the image area on which the sheetlike photosensitive material 2 is wound from the forward of the rotational direction (indicated b~v arrow A) of the drum and the non-image area where the photosensitive material doesn't exit.
Alon~ in the axial direction of the drum l in the orward portion of the image area there are provided many sucking ports 59 for use in holding the sheetlike photosensitive material 2 in a state of being wound around the drum l by section.
~nd in the non-image area there is provided a suction groove 60 in the axial direction of the drum l, which functions to remove surplus developer by suction and in which an absorptive material 61 such as felt and the likes are pac~.ed in.
The sucking ports 59 and the suction groove 60 are connected respectively to a suction duct 63 p~ovided within the rotary shaft 62 of the drum l, and the suction duct 63 is connected to a SUCti blo-~er 65 through a drainer 6~.
3~3 In the case that the suction means 60 as above-mentioned is provided in the non-image area of the drum 1, the removal o~ the surplus developer by the blade 52 can be carried out more perfectly.
Now the opera-tions of the above-mentioned construction of the present invention are described in detail.
When the color developing device 3C is located at the developing position, the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface 2a which is rotating is mostly removed at the position opposed to the developer squeezing roller unit 50 and returned into the case body 41. And after passing by the roller unit 50, the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface 2a is pushed back to the area near the roller unit 50 by the blowing air from the air knife device 8, and is recovexed into the case body 41 through the roller unit 50. When the image area of the image carrying surface 2a passes by the developing head 42, the supply of the developer is stopped and at the same time the color developing device 3C is lowered to the blade contactiny position by the lifting means ~0. Further, interlockingly w.ith the lowering movement of the device 3C, the developing head ~2 and the developer squeezing roller unit 50 are operated to leave from the drum 1 and the developer recovery blade 52 is operated to be in contact with the non-image area of the image carrying surface 2a. Therefore, the surplus developer remained between the image carrying surface 2a and the roller unit 50 flows down to be removed through the developer recovery blade 52.
When the drum 1 further rotates for the above-mentioned suction means 60 to reach the blade 52, the surplus developer sticked to the blade 52 is sucked and removed completely. And then the color developing device 3C is operated to move down to the lowered position by the li~ting means.
After that sequentially other color developing devices 3M, 3Y are operated to carry out the magenta or yellow development the same as the cyan developing device 3C.
Besides the above-mentioned embodiment of the CPC system wherein the copy image is recorded directly on the photosensitive material 2 wound around the drum 1, the present invention can be applied also to the CPC system wherein the photosensitive lamina is formed integratedly onto the peripheral surface.
Referring to Figures ~ and 5 there is shown the second embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine for color correction to which the present invention is applied.
First an outline of the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine for color correction (hereinafter, referred simply to the corrective copying machine) is now described.
The corrective copying machine is a ~ind of the simple corrective apparatus, which may be utilized in order to check the result of each color separated film negative obtained by a separation of the color original image prior to regular printing by a press. And it is constructed so as to be capable of corrective printing as follows.
As shown in Figure 5, a photosensitive material holding device 71 supported rotatably by the frame (llOt shown in Figures~ is adapted to the settled for its holding surface to face upwards by :~2~3~
turning i-t over in the direction of the arrow E.
A photoconductive photosensitive material 72 is placed evenly on the holding surface 71a so as to be located by pins and the likes (not shown in Figures) and then to be held by suction.
Then the charger 74 is shifted toward the direction o~ -the arrow F so that the electrostatic charge is charged entirely to the photosensitive material 72 thereby. After that, the color separated film negative 73 (or example a cyan film nega-tive) is placed upon the charged photosensitive material 72, and located, and held by suction.
Then the light source 75 is lit on and the image on the negative 73 is exposed onto the photosensitive material 72 so that the electrostatic latent image is produced on the photosensitive material 72.
Further as shown in Figure 4, in the state tha-t only the color sepaxated film negative 73 is removed and the photosensitive material 72 is still held by suction as it is, the photosensitive material holding device 71 is turned over in the direction of the arrow E so as for the holding surface 71a to face downward, and the color developing device (for example the cyan developing device) 76C
~5 corresponding to the nega-tive 73 among the devices o~ the wet type of developing apparatus 76 is adapted to move upward in the direction of the arrow G. For example while the developing apparatus 76 being moved in the direction of the arrow H, the corresponding color developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive material 72 so that the visible image is developed by the color toner.
In the same way, each color separated film negative is successively placed upon the same ~5~35 photosensitive material 72 by putting marks together, and the exposure and the development are carried out repeatedly so that the corrected print is obtained as the copy of the color original image, This second embodiment is very different from the first embodiment in respect of such constructions as the photosensitive ma-terial holding means comprises the flat plate-like holding device 71 supported rota-tably by the machine frame and accordingly the developing process is carried out by the relative movement of both the holding device 71 and the developing apparatus 76 in the holizontal direction H.
Each color developing device 76C, 76M, 76Y is adapted to be operated upward and downward through the case body 80 by the lifting means 78 respectively provided within the carriage 77 and to be located operatively at the levels of three stages of the developing position, the intermediate position and the lowered position in the same way as the first embodiment.
Essentially, each color developing device 76C, 76M~ 76~ has the almost same construction as that of the first embodimentO That is, the head case 81 is biased upward by the compression spring 82. And on the head case 81 there are provided the developing head 83, two rollers 84~ 85, the air knife device 86 and the developer recovery blade 87, And interlockingly with the leaving movement of the developing head 83, two rollers 84, 85 and the air knife device 86 from the image carrying surface~ the developer recovery blade 87 is operated to be in contact with the non-image area o~ the image carrying surface 71a so that the ~53 surplus developer remained between the developer squeezing roller 85 and the image carrying surface 71a is recovered through the blade 87. And the symbol 90 is the suction groove formed in the non-image area in order to suck surplus developer, 91 is the absorptive member, 92 is the pivot shaft, 93 is the suction duct formed in the pivot shaft, 94 is the drainer and 95 is the suction blower, each of which functions the same as that in the first embodiment.
~ s described above, since the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine of the present invention is constructed so that each color developing device is provided with both the developer squeezing roller and the developer recovery blade and the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is removed by the recovery blade which is operated to be in contact with -the image carrying surface interlockingly with the leaving mo~ement of the squeezing roller when the squeezing roller is operated to leave from the image carrying surface, the partial remains of developer regarded as -the problem in the prior art are eliminated and the surplus developer is removed completely from the image carrying sur~ace.
Thereore, due to the enhancement of the removal eEEect, a color turbidity of a copy image can be elimina-ted.
Now the opera-tions of the above-mentioned construction of the present invention are described in detail.
When the color developing device 3C is located at the developing position, the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface 2a which is rotating is mostly removed at the position opposed to the developer squeezing roller unit 50 and returned into the case body 41. And after passing by the roller unit 50, the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface 2a is pushed back to the area near the roller unit 50 by the blowing air from the air knife device 8, and is recovexed into the case body 41 through the roller unit 50. When the image area of the image carrying surface 2a passes by the developing head 42, the supply of the developer is stopped and at the same time the color developing device 3C is lowered to the blade contactiny position by the lifting means ~0. Further, interlockingly w.ith the lowering movement of the device 3C, the developing head ~2 and the developer squeezing roller unit 50 are operated to leave from the drum 1 and the developer recovery blade 52 is operated to be in contact with the non-image area of the image carrying surface 2a. Therefore, the surplus developer remained between the image carrying surface 2a and the roller unit 50 flows down to be removed through the developer recovery blade 52.
When the drum 1 further rotates for the above-mentioned suction means 60 to reach the blade 52, the surplus developer sticked to the blade 52 is sucked and removed completely. And then the color developing device 3C is operated to move down to the lowered position by the li~ting means.
After that sequentially other color developing devices 3M, 3Y are operated to carry out the magenta or yellow development the same as the cyan developing device 3C.
Besides the above-mentioned embodiment of the CPC system wherein the copy image is recorded directly on the photosensitive material 2 wound around the drum 1, the present invention can be applied also to the CPC system wherein the photosensitive lamina is formed integratedly onto the peripheral surface.
Referring to Figures ~ and 5 there is shown the second embodiment of a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine for color correction to which the present invention is applied.
First an outline of the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine for color correction (hereinafter, referred simply to the corrective copying machine) is now described.
The corrective copying machine is a ~ind of the simple corrective apparatus, which may be utilized in order to check the result of each color separated film negative obtained by a separation of the color original image prior to regular printing by a press. And it is constructed so as to be capable of corrective printing as follows.
As shown in Figure 5, a photosensitive material holding device 71 supported rotatably by the frame (llOt shown in Figures~ is adapted to the settled for its holding surface to face upwards by :~2~3~
turning i-t over in the direction of the arrow E.
A photoconductive photosensitive material 72 is placed evenly on the holding surface 71a so as to be located by pins and the likes (not shown in Figures) and then to be held by suction.
Then the charger 74 is shifted toward the direction o~ -the arrow F so that the electrostatic charge is charged entirely to the photosensitive material 72 thereby. After that, the color separated film negative 73 (or example a cyan film nega-tive) is placed upon the charged photosensitive material 72, and located, and held by suction.
Then the light source 75 is lit on and the image on the negative 73 is exposed onto the photosensitive material 72 so that the electrostatic latent image is produced on the photosensitive material 72.
Further as shown in Figure 4, in the state tha-t only the color sepaxated film negative 73 is removed and the photosensitive material 72 is still held by suction as it is, the photosensitive material holding device 71 is turned over in the direction of the arrow E so as for the holding surface 71a to face downward, and the color developing device (for example the cyan developing device) 76C
~5 corresponding to the nega-tive 73 among the devices o~ the wet type of developing apparatus 76 is adapted to move upward in the direction of the arrow G. For example while the developing apparatus 76 being moved in the direction of the arrow H, the corresponding color developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive material 72 so that the visible image is developed by the color toner.
In the same way, each color separated film negative is successively placed upon the same ~5~35 photosensitive material 72 by putting marks together, and the exposure and the development are carried out repeatedly so that the corrected print is obtained as the copy of the color original image, This second embodiment is very different from the first embodiment in respect of such constructions as the photosensitive ma-terial holding means comprises the flat plate-like holding device 71 supported rota-tably by the machine frame and accordingly the developing process is carried out by the relative movement of both the holding device 71 and the developing apparatus 76 in the holizontal direction H.
Each color developing device 76C, 76M, 76Y is adapted to be operated upward and downward through the case body 80 by the lifting means 78 respectively provided within the carriage 77 and to be located operatively at the levels of three stages of the developing position, the intermediate position and the lowered position in the same way as the first embodiment.
Essentially, each color developing device 76C, 76M~ 76~ has the almost same construction as that of the first embodimentO That is, the head case 81 is biased upward by the compression spring 82. And on the head case 81 there are provided the developing head 83, two rollers 84~ 85, the air knife device 86 and the developer recovery blade 87, And interlockingly with the leaving movement of the developing head 83, two rollers 84, 85 and the air knife device 86 from the image carrying surface~ the developer recovery blade 87 is operated to be in contact with the non-image area o~ the image carrying surface 71a so that the ~53 surplus developer remained between the developer squeezing roller 85 and the image carrying surface 71a is recovered through the blade 87. And the symbol 90 is the suction groove formed in the non-image area in order to suck surplus developer, 91 is the absorptive member, 92 is the pivot shaft, 93 is the suction duct formed in the pivot shaft, 94 is the drainer and 95 is the suction blower, each of which functions the same as that in the first embodiment.
~ s described above, since the wet type color electrophotographic copying machine of the present invention is constructed so that each color developing device is provided with both the developer squeezing roller and the developer recovery blade and the surplus developer remained on the image carrying surface is removed by the recovery blade which is operated to be in contact with -the image carrying surface interlockingly with the leaving mo~ement of the squeezing roller when the squeezing roller is operated to leave from the image carrying surface, the partial remains of developer regarded as -the problem in the prior art are eliminated and the surplus developer is removed completely from the image carrying sur~ace.
Thereore, due to the enhancement of the removal eEEect, a color turbidity of a copy image can be elimina-ted.
Claims (5)
1. In a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, a wet type of developing apparatus and a surplus developer removing device being provided under a photosensitive material carrying device, a toner image being produced on an image carrying surface and surplus developer remained on the carrying surface being removed while the image carrying surface being moved relatively to both the wet type of developing apparatus and the surplus developer removing device, said wet type of developing apparatus comprising a plurality of color developing devices and a lifting means for locating each color developing device at the levels of three stages such as a developing position, a blade contacting position and a lowered position, said surplus developer removing device comprising a developer squeezing roller unit, a developer recovery blade both of which being provided at least in each color developing device and an air knife device, and said developer recovery blade being brought into contact with the boundary area of the image carrying surface where no images existing from its receded position interlockingly with the lowering movement of the color developing device from the developing position to the blade contacting position in order to recover the remained developer.
2. A wet type color electrophotographic copying machine as defined in Claim 1, wherein the color developing device comprising a case body thereof, a head case supported through a spring within said case body with being biased upward by said spring and a developing head mounted on said head case, said head case being provided with the developer squeezing roller unit and the developer recovery blade, and said developer recovery blade being adapted to the supported swingably through a swing plate by the head case and to be moved up to the blade contacting position when an arm fixedly secured to an end of a support shaft for the swing plate and engaged to the head case being operated to leave from the case body by the relative lowering movement of the case body to the head case.
3. A wet type color electrophotographic copying machine as defined in Claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material carrying device comprising a drum supported rotatably by the frame of the copying machine.
4. A wet type color electrophotographic copying machine as defined in Claim 3, wherein the photosensitive material carrying device holding a photoconductive photosensitive material wound around the drum thereof.
5, A wet type color electrophotographic copying machine as defined in Claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material carrying device holding the photoconductive photosensitive material evenly on a flat plate thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP60285009A JPH0776851B2 (en) | 1985-12-18 | 1985-12-18 | Wet color electrophotographic copying machine |
| JP60-285009 | 1985-12-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1253195A true CA1253195A (en) | 1989-04-25 |
Family
ID=17685967
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000525456A Expired CA1253195A (en) | 1985-12-18 | 1986-12-16 | Wet type color electrophotographic copying machine |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4754302A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0226213B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0776851B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE68054T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1253195A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3681784D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5243395A (en) * | 1989-02-03 | 1993-09-07 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Color image forming apparatus with developing unit moving means |
| US5064738A (en) * | 1989-11-20 | 1991-11-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Liquid toning process and apparatus |
| US5053820A (en) * | 1990-03-12 | 1991-10-01 | Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company | Developing module drive system for an electrographic printer |
| US5255056A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1993-10-19 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Co. | Photoconductor film clamping and tensioning system and method of use |
| US5182608A (en) * | 1990-12-03 | 1993-01-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method and apparatus for applying toner to an electrostatic image |
| US5442426A (en) * | 1992-06-25 | 1995-08-15 | Victor Company Of Japan, Ltd. | Wet type electro-photographic recording apparatus |
| US5250987A (en) * | 1992-07-23 | 1993-10-05 | Eastman Kodak Company | Toner monitor to control development concentration and locate developer stations with respect to a stationary photo-conductor in an electrophotographic apparatus |
| GB9307513D0 (en) * | 1993-04-13 | 1993-06-02 | Kodak Ltd | Photographic apparatus |
| DE69629504T2 (en) * | 1995-10-30 | 2004-08-05 | Nippon Steel Corp. | ELECTROSTATIC RECORDING DEVICE |
| JP2003098787A (en) * | 2001-09-21 | 2003-04-04 | Toshiba Mach Co Ltd | Developing device for printer and the printer provided with this device |
| JP5875328B2 (en) | 2011-11-01 | 2016-03-02 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming apparatus and cartridge |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5616424B2 (en) * | 1973-06-15 | 1981-04-16 | ||
| JPS5077042A (en) * | 1973-11-07 | 1975-06-24 | ||
| US4275134A (en) * | 1974-07-30 | 1981-06-23 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrophotographic method for reproducing a multicolor image |
| JPS5931071B2 (en) * | 1975-08-04 | 1984-07-31 | キヤノン株式会社 | developing device |
| JPS5847707B2 (en) * | 1975-12-26 | 1983-10-24 | 株式会社リコー | Roller cleaning procedure |
| JPS5370442A (en) * | 1976-12-03 | 1978-06-22 | Canon Inc | Removal device for insulating liquid |
| US4247191A (en) * | 1978-06-28 | 1981-01-27 | Grace Archie R | Projection color copier |
| JPS5579345U (en) * | 1978-11-24 | 1980-05-31 | ||
| JPS55142370A (en) * | 1979-04-23 | 1980-11-06 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Method and apparatus for two rotation one copy type electrophotography by wet development |
| JPS5825267B2 (en) * | 1979-07-30 | 1983-05-26 | 株式会社リコー | Surplus developer removal device for electronic copying machines, etc. |
-
1985
- 1985-12-18 JP JP60285009A patent/JPH0776851B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1986
- 1986-12-12 US US06/941,219 patent/US4754302A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-12-16 CA CA000525456A patent/CA1253195A/en not_active Expired
- 1986-12-17 DE DE8686117591T patent/DE3681784D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-12-17 EP EP86117591A patent/EP0226213B1/en not_active Expired
- 1986-12-17 AT AT86117591T patent/ATE68054T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS62144180A (en) | 1987-06-27 |
| US4754302A (en) | 1988-06-28 |
| DE3681784D1 (en) | 1991-11-07 |
| ATE68054T1 (en) | 1991-10-15 |
| JPH0776851B2 (en) | 1995-08-16 |
| EP0226213B1 (en) | 1991-10-02 |
| EP0226213A1 (en) | 1987-06-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |